Short Summary

A bomb went off in central London on Monday night (17 December), damaging the office of Turkish Airlines.

Description

A bomb went off in central London on Monday night (17 December), damaging the office of Turkish Airlines. Reuters news agency reported that a secret Armenian Liberation group claimed responsibility for the attack.

SYNOPSIS: London's famous West End was aglow with Christmas decorations when the half-pound (1.1 kgs) bomb went off in Hanover Street. Police said the bomb had either been hurled at the airlines' office from a passing car or placed against a window. The blast tore out the windows and flung shards of glass out onto the street. Police said a cleaning woman, who was inside the office when the bomb went off, had suffered shock.

Police cordoned off Hanover Street, which is only one block from oxford Circus, in the very heart of central London. Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Squad, which went to the scene, quickly discounted that the IRA had thrown the bomb. An anonymous caller telephoned Reuters office and said the Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia was responsible for the bombing.

The organisation seeks Armenian independence. It has also claimed responsibility for bombings at Turkish Airlines offices in Rome and Paris in the past few weeks.